Meat-slicer.



T. C. BRASKET.

MEAT SLIGER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 17, 1908.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. C. BRASKET.

MEAT SLIGER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 1v, 1908.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i .Ci i? Q;

@XH/tucasa@ THOMAS C. BRA.SKET,`0F ANDERSON. INDIANA.

MEAT-SLICEIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 17. 1908.

Patented Mar. `1, 1910.

Serial No. 444,021.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. BRAskn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Meat-Slicer, ot which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in meat slicers.

The object of thc present invention is to improve the construction 'of meat slicers, und to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive machine, capable of easy operation to cut meat, or other material into slices ot' uniform thickness, and adapted to automatically feed the material to the knife at the end of each cutting operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accoinpanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departin from the spirit or sacrificing any ot' the at vantages of the invention.

In the drawing'sz-Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a meat Slicer, constructed in accordance with this invention. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is aplan view. Fig. 4. is a central longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View, illustrating the construction of the adjustable projection or finger for operating the feeding mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, illustrating the construction of the spring actuated pawl and the ratchet wheel. Fig 7 is a detail view of the engaging end of the meat engaging member.

Like numerals, of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The frame of the machine comprises a hollow substantially rectangular base 1, provided with front and rear horizontal extensions or feet 2 and 3, arranged to rest upon the supporting surface to providey an enlarged base for increasing the stability of the machine. Mounted upon the base at the 'front portion thereof is a transversely disposed arched support 4, provided at the lower end of its sides with rearwardly extending horizontally disposed attaching flanges or portions 5, which-are secured by screws 6, or

other suitable fastening devices to the u per 'faces of lateral extensions 7 of the ase. The arched lsupport is provided at the to with a centrally arranged upwardly exten ing arm S, having a bearing `9 at its upper end for the reception of a short forwardly projecting horizontal shaft l0, secured in the bearing 9 by means of a set screw 11, or other suitable fastening device and forming a pivot for an oscillatory knife carrying arm 12.

The oscillatory knife carrying arm, which is provided at it supper end with an in ral sleeve or bearing 13 for the shaft or pivot 10, has a lower sleeve or bearing 14 at its lower end for the reception of a horizontal shaft 15, carrying a rotary circular knife` 16 and a pinion 17. The rotary knife, which is beveled at its periphery to provide a cutting edge, is suitably secured to the rear end of the shaft 15, an the pinion, which is located` in advance of the knife, lits against the rear face of the lower end of the oscillatory arm and meshes with a fixed curved rack 18, whereby when the arm is oscillated to swing the knife from one side of the machine to the other, the 'said `knife will be rotated, thereby reducing an effective and rapid cutting o the meat, or other material.

Thecurved rack is rovided at its ends with de ending integra supporting arms 19 and 20, avin off-sets or bends, which space the curved rac from the arched support and providing anintervening' space or passageway for the rotary knite 16. The oscilla tory arm is `provided at an intermediate point with an inte al rack 21, convexly curved and located a ove and meshingwith a mutilated gear 22 of a short `horizontal shaft 23, journaled in a suitable bearing 24 at the lower end of the upwardly extending arm ofthe arched su ort. The gear 22 is located inadvance ofp t e arched support of the frame, and the shaft 23, which projects rearwardly from the said support, 1s operated by means of `an oscillatory arm or lever 24:, having an outer handle or grip por tion and rovided at its inner end with an opening or the said shaft" 23. The inner end of the operating hand or lever 24 is secured to the shaft 23 by a set screw 25, or

other suitable means, and the inner or lower end of the operatin `lever is maintained in fixed relation with t' e frame of the machine by the said shaft. When the 0 erating arm or lever is oscillatod, the shat 23 is partially rotated and motion is communicated through ther mutilated and the curved rack 21 to the knife carrying arm, which is swung transversely of the machine, and the oscillatory movement of the arm rotates the knife through the pinion 17 and the fixed curved rack 18. The arched support is provided with rearwardly extending projections 26 l and 27, arranged in the path of the operating arm or lever 24 and forming stops for limiting the movement of the same.

lllhe base of the machine is provided at its 7 upper face with parallel guides or ways 28,

' front end with a clamp composed of spaced vertical posts or members 31, and a transversely disposed meat engaging member 32. The posts or upright members 31, which are bolted at their lower ends to flanges V33, are provided at their inner sides with teeth 34, and the meat engaging member which is fiilcrumed on on of the posts or members, is

movable bodi y into and out of engagement with the same, and is provided with a pivot' dog 35 for engaging th'eteeth of thev other post o r member. The end. 36 of themeat engaging member is tapered' for engaging the teeth of the proximate post or member, and is providedl with shoulders 37 `to form` stops for engaging the post or member to prevent the end 36 from moving laterally out of engagement with the same. rlhe other end of the meat engaging-member is shaped into a handle orgrip. 38, and the said meat engaging member is provided at the inner end of the handle or grip with an openingi039 through which the adjacent post or mem er 31 passes.

The' dog 35, which is llt-shaped, is located at the inner side of the opening39 andispivoted between a pair of ears 4() by a rivet 41, or other suitablev fastening evice. The outer arm of the L-shaped dog is beveled at the end for engaging the teeth 34 of the adjacent post or member 3l, and the inner arm gases t vforms,at-,handle or operating portion for enabling the dog to be readily swung out of engagement with vthe said teeth for releasing the meat clamping member. The outer arm of the pawl,"'which is heavier 'than the inner arm, is adaptedto swing outwardly into engagement with the post or member through gravity, land when the handle end of the meat engaging member is Y forced down- 'wardly,=itiis locked against upward moveim dog, which automatically enment'b e teeth of the post or member. 1n

securing the meat, or other material to the carrier, the engagingor chiiiiping member is fulcrumed on the post oi member 31 at the right hand side in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, and the handle end of thel clampf ing member is forced downward through the material and tightly clamped on the carrier. The clamping member operates as a lever, and enables the necessary pressure to be readily applied. The meat carrier is' provided at the front with upwardly projecting transversely disposed flanges 42, tapered in cross section, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings to grip the meat, or other material and prevent the same from slipping.

The carrier is automatically advanced the thickness of a slice at the eiid of each cutting movement by means of feeding mechanism including rack and pinion gearing, ratchet mechanism for imparting a step by step movement to the rack and pinion gearing, and a lever 43, arranged iii substantially a vhorizontal position, when it is not depressed by the operating arm or lever and fulcriimed at an intermediate point on the arched support by means of a screw 44, or other suitable fastening device. The inner arm of the lever is arranged in the path of an adjustable finger or projection 45, consisting of an l shaped piece having its long arm adjustably secuicged in a perforation 46 of the iiineiend of the operatingarin or lever by a set screw 47. The projection or linger 45 is adjustable in aodirectioii longitudinally of the operating arm oi' lever, and its short arm, which is located at the outer end of the projection or finger, is arranged to engage the inner arm of the lever 43 and is carried into aifdout of engagement with the saine by the oscillatory movement of the operating arm or lever.

r1he projection or finger is adjustable inward and outward to vary the movement of the lever 43, and the consequent feed of the meat carrier.

The outer end of the lever 43 is connected by a rod 48 with an oscillatory arm 49, carrying aspring actuated dog 50 and mounted on a transverse shaft 51 at one side of the base of the frame of the machine. The arm 49,which extends rearwardly from the shaft 51,K oscillates independently of the rotary movement of the shaft and is adapted to rotate the latter forwardly by means of the pawl 50 and a ratchet ,wheel 52, keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft. The arm 49 is loosely mounted on vthe shaft 51 by a nut 53, or other suitable fastening means, and its outer portion is enlarged and provided with a longitudinal bore or opening to form a casing or housing for the ypawl 50, which is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 52 by means of a coiled spring 54. The

teeth of the ratchet wheel are shouldered atl ecs-1,050- 3 tated forwardly when the lever 43 is actuated by the operating arm or lever 24, the downward movement of the inner arm of the lever 43 operating to swing the arm 49 upwardly. The engaging end of the pawl is beveled and the ratchet wheel moves with the arm 49 when the latteris swung upwardly. The arm 49 and the lever 43 are returned to their initial posit-ions by means of a coiled spring 55, extending downwardly from the'arm 49 and secured at its lower end to the base 1 and connected at its upper cud to the said arm by means of a screw 5t.

The shaft Stextends across the base, and it carries a pinion 57, secured by 'a set screw, or other suitable means tothe shaft and meshing with a longitudinal rack 5S of the meat carrier. The rack 58, which depends from the lower face of the meat carrier, extends through a slot 59 of the top of the base. When the transverse shaft is rotated, motion is communicated through the pinion 57 and the rack 58 to the meat carrier, which is advanced toward the knife. r1`he rack is of sutiicient length to permit the carrier to move outwardly to a point close to the knife, but it is not long enough to cause the carrier to come in contact with the knife, and the forward movement of the carrier is limited by the front wall of the slot or opening 59, which constitutes the stop for engaging the front end of the rack bar. The meat carrier is readily lifted out of engagement with the pinion by the grip or handle, and is drawn rearwardly either to .readjust the meat or to clamp other materlal on the carrier. Une or more pieces of meat may be clamped to the carrier so as to project in advance of the latter, and after the 40 projecting portion is sliced, the meat may be readjusted and again sliced, the operation being continued until the meat is sliced as far as possible.

The movement of the operating arm or lever 24 from the dotted osition in Fig. l to the position shown in fu l lines in the said figure carries the knife from one side of the machine to the other and operates the feeding mechanism to advance the meat carrier a distance equal to the thickness of a slice, and the meat is cut during the movement of the operating arm or lever from its innermost position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings to its outermost position shown in dotted lines in the said figure. rlhe operating arm or lever is then swung backwardly or inwardly to feed the meat, and the cutting operation is then repeated. Having thus fully described my invention, 6o what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

i. A machine of the class described including a frame, an oscillatory arm pivoted at its upper end to the frame. a rotary knife carried by the lower end of the arm, a rack mount/ed on the arm and located above the knife, an oscillatory lever pivoted to the frame at a point below the pivot of the arm and maintamed in fixed relation with the said frame, and a gear connected with the lever and meshing with `the rack for oscillating the arm.

2. A machine of the class' described including a frame, an oscillatory arm pivoted at its upper end to the frame and provided with a rack carried by the upper portion of the arm, a rotary knife mounted 4on the lower end `of the arm, an oscillatory lever pivoted to the frame and maintained in fixed relation with the same, a gear connettso ed with the lever and meshing' with the rack for oscillating the arm` a pinion carried by the arm and connected with the knife, and a relatively fixed rack arranged to mesh with the pinion, whereby the knife will be rotated when the arm is oscillated. I 3. A machine of the class described including a frame, an oscillatory arm pivoted at its upper end to the frame and provided with a curved rack located at the upper portion of the said arm, a rotary knife carried by the lower portion ofthe arm, arotary. gear meshing with the rack, a pinion carried by the arm and connected with the knife, a relatively fixed rack curved concentric with the said rack and meshing with the pinion, whereby the knife will be rotated when the arm is osc-illated. and an oscillatory' operating lever pivotedu to a fixed portion of the frame and connected with the gear for rotating the same to oscillate the arm.

4. A `machine of the class described comprising a support, an oscillatory arm pivoted at its upper end to the support, a knife carried by and located at the lower end of the arm, a shaft mounted on the support and maintained in fixed relation with the same, an operatinglever mounted on one end of the shaft, and means connecting the other end of the shaft with the oscillatory arm for actuating the same.

5. A machine of the class described 1ncluding a frame having a fixed support, a fixed rack spaced from the support, an oscillatory arm pivoted to the support and provided above the said rack with a rack carried bythe said arm, a knife operating in the space between the fixed rack and the support, a pinion also carried by` the arm 12C and connected with the knife and meshing with the `fixed rack, and operating mechanism mounted on the support and including a gear meshing with the rack of the oscillatory arm.

6. A machine of the class described including a base, a fixed support extending upi wardly from the base and located at the front end thereof, a fixed transversely disposed rack arranged at the front of the base 130 V range and spaced from the support, an oscillatory arm pivoted at its upper end tothe support and arranged to swin transversely of the machine and provide at an intermediate pointwith a rack, a knife mounted on the arm at the lower end thereof, a. pinion carried by the lower end of the arm and connected with the knife and meshing with the ixed rack, a shaft journaled on the support, a gear carried by the shaft and meshing with the rack of the oscillatory arm, and an oscillatory arm or lever connected with the shaft for actuating the same.

7. A machine of the class described comprising cutting mechanism, a carrier provided with a clamp including ixed posts mounted on the carrler and provided at their inner faces with ratchet teeth, a clamping member extendin across the space between the post and havmg one end beveled to engage the teeth of one of the posts 'and movable bodily into and out of engagement with the same and provided at opposite sides with shoulders to prevent the beveled end from slipping laterally, anda dog mounted on the clamping member and cooperating with the. teeth of the other 0st.

8. A machine of the class escribed including anl oscillatory arm provided with cutting mechanism, operatin mechanism for the oscillatory arm inclu ing an oscillatory operating lever, a carrier, feeding mechanism for actuating the carrier, and means projectin from the operating lever and arto strike the feeding mechanism for operating the same.

9. A. machine of the class described including an oscillatory arm, cutting mecharb ism carried by the same, operating mechanism including an oscillatory operating lever, a carrier, feeding mechanism comprising a rack and pinion, ratchet mechanism for actuating the rack and pinion gearing, a lever connected with the ratchet mechanism, and means projecting from the operating lever and arranged to strike the lever of the feeding mechanism.

10. A machine of the class described including an oscillatory arm, cutting mechanism carried by the arm, operatin mechanism for the arm including an oscil atory operating lever, a carrier, feedin mechanism for moving' the carrier towar the cutting mechanism provided with a lever, and an adjustable member projecting from the 0perating lever and arranged to strike -t e lever of the feeding mechanism for actuating the same.

11. A machine of the class described including an oscillatory arm, a knife carried by the arm, operating mechanism for the arm provided with an oscillatory operating lever, a substantially E.-shaped fin er or projection adjustably mounted on t e arm, a carrier, and feeding mechanism for moving the carrier toward the knife having a lever arranged to be actuated by the said finger or projection. y

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as m own, I have hereto axed my signature 1n the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS C. BRASKET.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR C. CALL, G. W. Perrionaw. 

